Reliable measurement of strains in the material is essential in studying the building structure stress-strain state. The practice of operating concrete and reinforced concrete elements used in the construction industry shows that achieving the ultimate equilibrium state in these elements takes place in localized places. After the long-term operation of reinforced concrete structures, the concentration of stresses and strains is localized within such places, which can lead to the development of irreversible processes. Determining the stress-strain state based on classical criteria does not always give an exact answer. In such cases, the load-bearing capacity of structural elements must be assessed based on standards and invariant mechanical characteristics of materials, by which real strength and durability can be established. When the body is deformed, both on the surface and in the middle of the material, the process is accompanied by various breaks and changes in the phase field of the speckle image in the zones of singularities and various surface inhomogeneities. It is practically impossible to quantitatively assess the stressed zones of the material surface using speckle interferometry methods since the phase component is not considered in the case of a correlation fragment in speckle patterns. At the same time, the digital image correlation (DIC) methods can be used to estimate displacement and strain fields without restrictions. Therefore, such approaches can be effective technologies for determining the stress-strain state on smooth surfaces and parts with a stress concentrator. This article presents the results of testing concrete using DIC. A method of testing concrete samples using the process of determining strains by the method of digital image correlation and monitoring strains using sub-micron indicators has been developed. Transverse strains of concrete up to and including the moment of destruction of concrete samples were determined.